Avatar photoThe Advantage of Being the Weaker, Nuclear-Armed State

Doyens of nuclear deterrence strategy during the first nuclear age were convinced that size mattered. The nuclear-armed state with a bigger arsenal, or greater missile throw-weight, or sharper missile accuracy, or more tactical nuclear weapons, or [fill in the blank] would be better off in leveraging outcomes, before and after the balloon went up. In …

Avatar photoRussia, China, and the US discuss the Norks

Jeffrey and the Center for Nonproliferation Studies have been busy hosting a series of track 1.5 dialogues in the foggy bit of California. Under the direction of Stephanie Lieggi, CNS brought together American and Chinese officials for a much broader conversation about nonproliferation that was hijacked by the North Koreans – sorta like this podcast. …

Avatar photoTo Hiroshima

Secretary of State John Kerry joins other foreign ministers placing flowers at the cenotaph of the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima on Monday. Visits by high-level U.S. officials to Hiroshima are heavily freighted, unlike those to Tokyo, where over 100,000 civilians were killed in firebombing raids in March 1945. Hiroshima is different, of course. Tokyo …

Avatar photoNew DPRK ICBM Engine

Yesterday, Melissa Hanham and I gave a talk to a meeting of US and Russian experts about North Korea’s growing nuclear and missile programs.  The presentation is part of a high-level dialogue that seeks to resume US-Russian cooperation on nonproliferation, even as relations are in the toilet.  Melissa tweeted some pictures from last night’s dinner, …